Australian Al-Jazeera reporter Peter Greste Sunday called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi to pardon him and two colleagues handed three-year prison sentences, describing the Saturday court decision as “politically motivated”.

Greste, Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were sentenced for broadcasting “false” news that harmed Egypt in a retrial on Saturday, with the shock ruling by the Cairo court drawing international criticism.

“In the absence of any evidence of wrongdoing, the only conclusion that we can come to is that this verdict was politically motivated,” Greste, who was tried in absentia after being deported early this year, said in Sydney.

“President Sissi now has an opportunity to undo that injustice, to correct that injustice. The eyes of the world are on Egypt.

“It is now up to President Sissi to do what he said he would do from the outset and that is pardon us if we were ever convicted.”

The three journalists were sentenced to between seven and 10 years in jail last year, but an appeals court in January granted them a retrial, saying the verdict had not been backed by evidence.

They were arrested in December 2013, months after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and launched a deadly crackdown on his supporters.

The case has become an embarrassment for Sissi, who has said he wished the reporters had been deported rather than put on trial.

Greste vowed to use “every legal, political, diplomatic and social means” to fight Saturday’s verdict, which saw Fahmy and Mohamed — who were in court after being released on bail — taken into custody.

“We will continue to fight this using every available means open to us,” he said.

“This is about what this means for due process in Egypt. It’s about what it means for the rule of law in Egypt. It is also about what it means about freedom of the press and democracy in Egypt.”

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said her government would “do all that we can do help him clear his name,” referring to Greste.

“He’s not in Egypt so that could limit the legal processes that he can undertake,” Bishop told commercial broadcaster Channel Seven on Sunday.

“But most certainly, there is available a presidential pardon, and we made numerous representations to President al-Sissi in the lead-up to the appeal, in relation to the first trial, and now the retrial.”

Al-Jazeera English producer Baher Mohamed, left, Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, centre, and correspondent Peter Greste at a court hearing in 2014 Picture: AP Photo/Heba Elkholy, By Agencies. Amal Clooney was in court to defend Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy and was to meet officials to press for his pardon An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced three Al-Jazeera English journalists to three years in prison, the last twist in a long-running trial criticised worldwide by press freedom advocates and human rights activists. Amal Clooney was in court to defend Mohammed Fahmy, a Canadian national, and was later due to meet government officials to ask for his pardon and deportation. Fahmy, who was released on bail at the start of the retrial in February along with Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed, said on Friday night that it was a “politicised trial” from day one. “If justice is to be served we should be acquitted as impartial journalists,” he added, The case against Fahmy, Mohammed and Australian journalist Peter Greste embroiled their journalism into the wider conflict between Egypt and Qatar following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Mohammed Fahmy was defended by Amal Clooney  Hassan Ammar/AP ADVERTISEMENT It wasn’t immediately clear how the sentence would affect the three men. Greste, deported in February, spoke to Al-Jazeera from Sydney and criticised the verdict. Mostefa Souag, Al-Jazeera English acting director-general, also criticised the verdict, saying it “‘defies logic and common sense.” “The whole case has been heavily politicised and has not been conducted in a free and fair manner,” Souag said in a statement. “There is no evidence proving that our colleagues in any way fabricated news or aided and abetted terrorist organisations and at no point during the long drawn out retrial did any of the unfounded allegations stand up to scrutiny.” The case began in December 2013, when Egyptian security forces raided the upscale hotel suite used by Al-Jazeera at the time to report from Egypt. Authorities arrested Fahmy, Greste and Mohammed, later charging them with allegedly being part of Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which authorities have declared a terrorist organisation, and airing falsified footage intended to damage national security. Since Mr Morsi’s ouster, Egypt has cracked down heavily on his supporters, and the journalists were accused of being mouthpieces for the Brotherhood. Al-Jazeera and the journalists have denied the allegations, saying they were simply reporting the news. However, Doha has been a strong supporter of the Brotherhood and other Islamist groups in the greater Mideast. At trial, prosecutors used news clips about an animal hospital with donkeys and horses, and another about Christian life in Egypt, as evidence they broke the law. Defense lawyers – and even the judge – dismissed the videos as irrelevant. Nonetheless, the three men were convicted on June 23, 2014, with Greste and Fahmy sentenced to seven years in prison and Mohammed to 10 years. The verdict brought a landslide of international condemnation and calls for newly elected President Abdelfattah el-Sisi, who as military chief led the overthrow of Mr Morsi, to intervene. Egypt’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest appeals court, later ordered their retrial, saying the initial proceedings were marred by violations of the defendants’ rights. Egypt deported Greste in February, though he remained charged in the case. Fahmy and Mohammed were later released on bail. Fahmy was asked to give up his Egyptian nationality by Egyptian officials in order to qualify for deportation. It’s not clear why he was deported, though Fahmy said he thinks Canada could have pressed Cairo harder on the matter. Angered by Al-Jazeera’s handling of the case, Fahmy has filed a lawsuit in Canada seeking $100 million from the broadcaster, saying that it put the story ahead of employee safety and used its Arabic-language channels to advocate for the Brotherhood. Al-Jazeera has said Fahmy should seek compensation from Egypt.

Nominated Senator Joy Gwendo who has been found guilty for disrespecting the party by the National Alliance (TNA).

BY SAM ALFAN.

The National Alliance (TNA) has found nominated Senator Joy Gwendo guilty of disrespecting the party and therefore decided to suspend her with immediate effect.

President Kenyatta’s party National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) had summoned senator Gwendo, Moses Kuria (Gatundu South MP) and Priscilla Nyokabi (Nyeri County MP) over their conduct in regards to the party’s philosophies and affiliations.

Mr Kuria is charged with incitement, hate speech and causing ethnic contempt in Facebook messages allegedly posted on May 16.

Gwendo now risks expulsion should the National Oversight Board find her guilty of allegations leveled against her.

The axe has fallen on Senator Gwendo as Nyokabi was set free for lack of evidence. Kuria’s fate hangs in the balance.

According to the committee’s ruling, signed by five members including Deputy Chair Washington Makodingo, the senator was de-whipped from all Senate committees and suspended from the party henceforth.

“The charged member (senator) is recommended to the National Oversight Board for expulsion from the party pursuant to Articles 4 (9) (b) and 32 (3) of the TNA constitution,” said the NDC ruling.

Johnston Sakaja (nominated), who is also the party chairman, lodged a complaint with the committee, questioning the conduct of Gwendo, which has brought the name of the party and the office she holds into disrepute contrary to Article 3 and 4 of the party’s constitution.

“The senator has been disrespectful to the Kisumu Branch, an organ of the party, contravening Article 32 (5) of the party’s law,” stated the committee.

The charges also censure Gwendo for advancing the ideologies of other parties.

“The charged member has actively supported the agenda of the opposition both within and outside Parliament contrary to Article 4 (8) (b) of the party’s constitution,” reads part of the charges.

But in a quick rejoinder, Senator Gwendo turned to her social media page and faulted the committee’s decision, expressing her disappointment and claims that she supports ODM.

“I am extremely disappointed with the ruling. The NDC did not give us the particulars of the charge and deliberately delayed judgment to hamper our appeal,” said Gwendo.

“This is a political decision reeking of tribal, gender and sectorial harassment, which must not be allowed to stand in the modern Kenya. I shall stand strong and resist ill-timed attempts to push me out of a party that I have clearly worked hard for and which I believe in.”

She questioned the committee, which has recommended for her expulsion and vowed that the efforts of mercenaries will come to naught and threatened to challenge the decision in court.

“I have instructed my battery of lawyers to take up this matter to ensure justice is done. Justice will and must be done,” Gwendo said.

Makodingo had indicated that the disciplinary measures that will be taken against the legislators, if found culpable, will include expulsion, suspension, removal from parliamentary committees or even payment of fines.

He said they may also be compelled to issue public apologies where it applies.

                                                                       N Lawyer John Swaka leave Milimani law courts after he obtained orders restraining city county director of education from sacking the principal of Uhuru secondary school principal Andrew Obanga on Friday  18 August,2015..

BY SAM ALFAN.

Nairobi City County Director of Education has been restrained from sacking a secondary school principal in the county.

Justice George Odunga issued the orders halting the Director from removing Andrew O. Obanga as the principal of Uhuru Secondary School and replacing him with his deputy

 The restraining order will remain in place pending hearing and determination of the suit.

 School’s Board of management through lawyer John Swaka filed the application, saying that the Director has overstepped his mandate by verbally firing Obanga and replacing him with his deputy Duncan Juma.

Lawyer told the court that the director’s action to remove Mr Obanga from his position and replacing him with his deputy will destabilize and paralyze the smooth learning at the school

 The move the court heard was done arbitrary, unfair and contrary to the law.

 Mr Sakwa told the court that the board it was apprehensive the illegal removal of the principal will paralyze learning in the institution and may lead to students’ unrest when school reopens next week.

“The institution stands to suffer irreparable loss if the decision to remove the principal is upheld more so because he was overseeing the resolution of a land dispute involving an 18 acre piece of land belonging to the school”.

According to the board, powers to fire and hire is bestowed on the Teachers Service Commission Under the constitution.

The judge directed that the matter be heard on September 3

Two Narok county government Wildlife Services wardens Moses Kuiyoni (right) and Samuel Kishoyan, at Milimani law courts where they appeared before senior principal Magistrate Martha Mutuku after the court had issued arrest warrants in relation to the shooting of demonstrator issued on June 30th.The court lifted the warrant pending taking of plea on Wednesday next week on Friday 18 August, 2015.

BY SAM ALFAN.

Nairobi court has lifted a warrant of arrest against two Game warders linked with the shooting dead of a protester during demonstration against the Narok County Governor seven months ago.

Senior principal magistrate Martha Mutuku said that arrest warrant issued against Moses Kuiyoni and Samwel Kishoyan , but directed that they appear before  Capitol Hill police station on Monday 31 for purposes of recording statements.

The two suspects through their lawyer Okongo Omogeni they told the court that they have presented themselves to court after running that a warrant of arrest had been issued.

Omogeni told trial magistrate, that it’s in good faith that the suspects have appeared in court and its upon the court to exercise its discretion and lift the warrant.

The court directed that the matter be mentioned on September 2 .

Last month while releasing  Narok Senator Stephen Ole Ntutu and four MPs who are under investigations over chaotic demonstrations late January 2015 warned them to desist from taking part in any demonstration.

Earlier the DPP dropped incitement to violence charges against Senator  Ntutu and four  MPs Johana Ngeno (EmurwaDikir), Moitalel Kenta (Narok North), Korei Lemein (Narok South) and Patrick Ntutu (Narok West).

The five were discharged after the DPP found no evidence to prosecute them.

The DPP urged the court to release the five suspects on bond saying he had received information that chaos had erupted in Narok the same morning as residents protested the arrest of the politicians.

During the protests, one person was injured while businesses remained closed as angry youths barricaded roads leading to Narok Town.